A ski area in Oneida County is busy this winter as many people are making the most of the season.
This is Chase Roesler’s first year working at Woods Valley Ski Area in Westernville.
What You Need To Know
- Woods Valley Ski Area in Westernville offers a place where guests can ski, snowboard, snow tube and get lessons
- More people have been coming out since the start of the pandemic
- Woods Valley’s General Manager encourages people to enjoy the winter season outside
“I like it. It’s very enjoyable,” he said. “Just the environment, all the people, everybody is happy. And it’s just good seeing everybody here now hitting the slopes.”
It’s been a slow start for Woods Valley. They do make their own snow, but after a recent cold snap and some much-needed natural snow, the general manager says business has picked up.
“Celebrate winter,” Woods Valley Ski Area general manager and president Tim Woods said. “You live in Upstate New York. It’s a long winter here if you hate it, and there’s plenty to do between snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, skating. Take advantage of it.”
And that’s just what many of these guests are doing.
As someone who enjoys skiing and snowboarding, Roesler fits right in at Woods Valley, and he’s happy to see others having fun outside.
“It’s great,” Roesler said. “The more the better, you know?”
The COVID-19 pandemic led to people thinking more about outdoor activities, which was a big plus for places like Woods Valley, which offers a place to ski, snowboard, go snow tubing, and take lessons.
“The ski areas all did well last year in Upstate and New England, except for the border ski areas where the ability for Canadians to come down and visit was turned off,” Woods said.
“It impacted a few of the northern ski areas in northern Vermont, but for the most part the country saw a big bump in visitation.”
A lot of work has been done at Woods Valley during the pandemic. Some of the work includes a new kitchen, dining room and beginner’s area with a rental shop and ski school.
“When we finish the project this winter in early spring, we will have doubled the size of our lodge and basically have touched everything, renovated the entire building or added to it,” Woods said.
Woods Valley is expected to be open through the first few weekends of April. More information about Woods Valley Ski Area can be found here.
